Clothespin



cLoTHEsPIN Filed Ap'ril "-26, 1957 Inventor .Z /Varsen Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNITED STATES CLOTHESPIN Leo M. Larsen, Bellingham, Wash.

Application April 26,

1l Claim.

, My invention relates to improvementsy in clamps for use more particularly as clothespins;

The invention isrdesigned primarily to provide an efficient clothespin which may be inexpensively manufactured from rust-proof wire and which is easily attached and detached and will not l tear the clothes.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objectspresently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the following description, and denedin the claim appended hereto.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in edge elevation of a clamp or clothespin constructed according to my invention. Y

Figure 2 is a View partly in perspective and partly in section.

Figure 3 is a View in elevation illustrating the manner in which the invention is formed.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the illustrated embodiment of my invention comprises a helical coil I terminating. at each end in one leg, respectively, 2 of a pair of opposed U- shaped jaws 3 relatively separable and tensioned against separation by said coil I, the other leg 4 `of each jaw 3 terminating in a right angled end 5 inserted through said coil I and locked to the' opposite end of said coil against withdrawal therefrom. Adjacent the coil Iopposed legs 2 and 4 are oppositely bowed, relatively, as at 6, to accommodate a clothes line or the like therebetween. The free ends of the jaws 3 are oppositely bent, relatively, as at 'I, so that said ends diverge to facilitate the passage of a clothes line therebetween.

The described clamp or clothespin structure is formed from a single piece of resilient rust-proof wire of any suitable gauge and length which is wound at its center portion to form a helical coil I. The ends of the wire are then bent at opposite ends of said coil at substantially right angles to the axis of the latter and looped back upon them- 1997, semi No. 199,059

selves to opposite ends of said coil to form the legs 2 and 4 of the jaws 3. The extremities of thefree legs 4 are then bent at right angles to said legs in opposite directions, respectively, toI form the right angled ends 6 which are inserted through the coil I from opposite ends thereof. The terminals of the right angled ends 6 are then bent, as at to abut against their adjacent ends of the coil I under the reaction of the legs 4 and thereby prevent their withdrawal from said coil as will be clear. The bowed portions 6 may be formed after the formation of the jaws.3 or otherwise, as desired.

'Ihe construction, operation and advantages of my invention will, it is believed, be clear from the foregoing description thereof without further explanation.

Although certain specific details of construction have been illustrated and described in the present disclosure, it is to be understood that such details may be modied without departing from the inventive concept, and that right is herein reserved to all such modifications falling within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

What I claim is:

A clothespin comprising a single piece of resilient wire including a helical coil, and a pair of opposed U-shaped clamping jaws relatively separable and each comprising a pair of side legs projecting laterally from opposite ends of said coil, respectively, one leg of each pair being an integral extension of one end of the coil whereby said jaws are tensioned against separation, the other leg` of each pair having an angularly bent end portion extending through the coil from the other end of the latter and provided with a curved extremity hooking around the convolution at the first-mentioned end of the coil whereby spreading of the convolutions of the coil is opposed by reaction of said other legs of the pairs, the bent portions being crossed in said coil in engaging relation to oppose each other when the jaws are separated, and thereby additionally tension said jaws against separation.

LEO M. LARSEN. 

